Frank C. Girardot

Editor

Recent articles

Homicide

Immerse yourself in enough popular fiction and you might believe murders can be solved over a cup of tea in the well-appointed stateroom of a billionaire’s yacht.It really doesn’t happen like that.Watch enough television and you might think the tools of a good detective include brass knuckles, foul language and the occasional rubber hose.But there, too, you would be wrong.More often than not a true detective relies on...

Local governments

INDUSTRY >> Eighty-six of the 97 registered voters in the City of Industry live in homes that are either owned by the municipal housing authority or companies controlled by former Mayor Dave Perez, according to an analysis of voter registration, conflict of interest statements and rental records done by this news organization.In the wake of an audit of city finances that found the city paid more than $326 million to companies owned by Perez and his family over the past 20 years,...

Local governments

INDUSTRY >> A huge swath of land that was once the cattle ranch of a Los Angeles newspaper publisher went on the market Tuesday for what could be a record-setting sale.But residents are upset that the sale of Tres Hermanos could ruin a natural setting and the pristine environment that is home to owls, hawks and several other species including mountain lions and coyotes.“I have lived in Diamond Bar most of my life, and feel very strongly about the preservation of...

Law and order

LOS ANGELES >> A Los Angeles County Supervisor on Tuesday called for a grand jury investigation into contracts between the city of Industry and its former mayor, David Perez.Supervisor Michael Antonovich said $326 million in payments to companies owned by Perez and his family over the past 20 years, much of it for vague or even erroneous invoices, should be examined by the county.“The City of Industry revelations require a Grand Jury investigation into the...

Protests

ARCADIA >> Tears streaming down his cheeks, an Arcadia businessman Thursday called on the Los Angeles Police Department to afford Chinese Americans the same First Amendment rights exercised by other citizens. Kin Hui, CEO of Singpoli Group, LLC and Singpoli Capital Corporation, said LAPD’s decision to revoke a permit that would have allowed about 1,000 people to march Sunday on City Hall in Los Angeles sends the message that Asian voices and Asian rights are less valuable...

Local governments

Arcadia officials will likely cancel a planned trip to China and return $30,000 in donations that were intended to fund a portion of the junket for eight city officials. City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto said Wednesday he made a recommendation to call off the trip to both China and Taiwan in light of recent “questions” about city...

Homicide

It was a slip of the tongue that helped detectives solve the 2000 murder of Jose Francisco Rodriguez. The slip led the dead man’s wife straight to California’s death row. She might have gotten away with it — and 14 years later the case would have remained cold — except detectives said his wife, Angelina Rodriguez, got greedy and insisted on cashing in a $250,000 insurance policy on her husband’s life.“Her talking to us? That was the...

Unsolved homicides

One-by-one, seven messages arrived overnight.“Morning, I know we don’t know each other but I often write you and use you as a somewhat diary. My son little Tony Ramirez was murdered in 2002 at a party in Bassett Ca. He was 17 yrs old and a good kid.”Via Facebook, Margaret Gutierrez-Ramirez recalled every detail of that night. She relived the horror of Tony’s killing. She wrapped up a haunting detail about the Sept. 14, 2002, slaying of Tony...

Unsolved homicides

Inspired by a grieving mother’s text messages, reporters and editors of the Los Angeles News Group worked for 18 months investigating the scope of unsolved homicides in Los Angeles County. Titled “Getting Away with Murder,” the investigation examined 11,244 slayings that took place between Jan. 1, 2000, and Dec. 31, 2010. What they found was a trail of murder,...

Breeders' Cup World Championships

ARCADIA >> A commercial that blared over the loudspeaker Saturday afternoon at Santa Anita told the story of the day as well as anything.The track hosted the second and final day of the 2014 Breeders’ Cup. And, horse players came from all over the country to witness a full card of events that promised the best race horses in the sport’s most beautiful venue. It also gave them some controversy as the final race began with an...